Kirchberg ski resort is renowned for its lively cosmopolitan apres ski and is a key sector of the extensive Kitzbuheler Alpen ski area, ideally placed for its ski-lift and piste links to its more famous and fashionable neighbour Kitzbuhel and for nearby access to the vast SkiWelt ski domain.

Overview

Geographically just around the corner from its more famous sister resort of Kitzbuhel, the well-established yet still upcoming resort of Kirchberg is a good lower-cost alternative to its ritzier neighbour, offering the same great ski area and an equally lively apres-ski scene but attracting a younger and more informal clientele.

The village of Kirchberg in Tirol, to give Kirchberg its full title, is located midway between Kitzbuhel to the east and Brixen im Thale to the west, at the confluence of the Brixental and Aschauer valleys, presenting a good base for intermediates who are keen to cover as much ground as possible in exploring a number of regional resorts.

Kirchberg is physically linked into the Kitzbuhel ski area, but is officially a member of the distinct Kitzbuheler Alpen resorts group that covers Brixen im Thale, Kirchberg, and Westendorf (the former and latter of which also belong to the vast SkiWelt linked ski domain). Visitors can choose to purchase a Kitzbuhel-Kirchberg-Pass Thurn lift pass for that adjacent linked area alone, or opt for the regional Kitzbuheler Alpen All Star Card lift pass that also includes the SkiWelt area.

Ski area

Kirchberg's principal ski area access points are the Fleckalmbahn and Maierlbahn gondolas, each based just a couple of ski-bus stops away from the centre of Kirchberg village and both serving the Ehrenbachhohe sector of the Kitzbuhel-Kirchberg-Pass Thurn ski area.

This area's Hahnenkamm sector needs no introduction, offering a classic direct descent to the resort of Kitzbuhel; in the opposite direction the Pengelstein sector offers some even tougher terrain and is the site of the impressive peak-to-peak 3-S-Bahn gondola that provides the key link with the Wurzhohe sector above Jochberg, in turn linked with the higher-altitude Resterhohe sector at Pass Thurn.

This entire area is prime intermediate cruising territory, with a number of short black runs and a couple of ungroomed 'ski routes' to entertain more advanced visitors too. Returning to Kirchberg, the main home runs from Ehrenbachhohe are lovely long cruise-able blues, with a choice of more testing sections to keep them interesting.

On the opposite side of the valley lies Kirchberg's separate local Gaisberg ski hill, where a sole 4-seater chairlift serves just two pistes, one red, one black, equipped with floodlighting for night skiing and used to stage major slalom races; there's also a small beginners' area here too.

The iconic Kitzbuheler Horn that pierces the horizon directly north-east of Kirchberg is another nearby ski area, of particular interest to freestyle enthusiasts as it houses a good snowpark; this separate area is accessed via a gondola based in the north-eastern suburb of Kitzbuhel and is covered on the same area lift pass.

Other options from Kirchberg include the Ki-West gondola further along the Aschauer Valley to the south; this serves the Gampenkogel sector of the Westendorf ski area in the SkiWelt domain, home to one of the best snowparks in the region. Westendorf is linked via Brixen im Thale into the core SkiWelt circuit, but a more convenient access route is simply to take the short bus or train journey from Kirchberg directly to Brixen.

All ski-bus services, plus limited daytime train services between Kirchberg and Kitzbuhel, are free-of-charge to area lift pass holders.

Off the slopes and apres ski

Kirchberg is an attractive but somewhat rambling riverside village centred on a picturesque 'church on a hill' from which it derives its name. The place is big enough to develop a buzz, with plenty of shops, cafés, restaurants, and bars around its central quarters, yet small enough for everything to be just about within walking distance.

A few of the resort's larger sport-hotels have swimming pools and spa facilities, but the nearest leisure centre is the excellent Aquarena complex at Kitzbuhel. Alternative activities include the 3.5km toboggan run on the Gaisberg hillside, served by the canopied chairlift there and with lighting for evening use; ice-climbing towers are also sited there, close to the mid-altitude Obergaisberg mountain restaurant.

Kirchberg is renowned for its very lively nightlife, and the apres ski gets going from mid-afternoon onwards at slope-side mountain bars, such as the Schneebar Oberkaser on the home-run from Maierl, gradually gravitating to the popular ice-bars and pubs of the village after the lifts close.

Everything from laid-back cosy sturbl pubs to packed music-bars featuring live bands, DJs, and even dancing on tables is catered for, and a number of the liveliest venues morph into disco-bars later in the evening, keeping the party atmosphere going until well into the night; prime venues include the renowned London Pub (aka The Londoner), the Kuhstall and the Tiroler Disco.